The ABC’s of Vitamins: Fat-Soluble Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an important vitamin that contributes to the body’s functioning while also bringing along many great benefits. It is a known antioxidant, which protects the cells from the damaging free radicals. It also assists in the red blood cell formation as well as a good helper for Vitamin K. Apart from that, Vitamin E assist in the prevention of certain diseases like Lou Gehrig’s disease, cancer, and heart diseases.

Should vitamin E also be in children’s diet?

Most definitely –Yes, it should. Vitamin E is an important vitamin that every child should have. In order for children to grow strong and fit, a healthy dosage of Vitamin E should be included in their diet. Vitamin E helps children stay healthy as well as develop properly. In children, vitamin E helps in limiting the possible free radical production in their body. It also fights off damaging molecules that can harm cells. It also works for the children’s immunity, other metabolic processes, and for their DNA repair.

So, how does Vitamin E function in the body?

Vitamin E works by destroying the free radicals in the body. These free radicals are harmful molecules that damage the cells as well as the DNA. These free radicals are also one of the causes of premature aging and in rare cases, cancer. Vitamin E prevents their proliferation while also making sure that any damaged cell and DNA are repaired. Apart from that, it also helps in producing red blood cells and aids in processing Vitamin K efficiently.

Are there required dosages for Vitamin E?

There are required dosages in taking vitamin E and this differs depending on the person’s age.

For ages 1 – 3 years old, the required dosage is 9 IU per day (6 mg)
For ages 4 – 8 years old, the required dosage is 10.5 IU per day (7 mg)
For ages 9 – 13 years old, the required dosage is 16.4 IU per day (11 mg)
For ages 14 and up, the required dosage is 22.4 IU per day (15 mg)
Breastfeeding women have different dosage, which is a daily dosage of 28.4 IU (19 mg)

Children have a different dosage than adults since vitamin E can also work as an anti-coagulant, which puts children at a high risk of bleeding issues. Breastfeeding women also have different daily dosages because of their condition.

Is vitamin E found in food?

Yes, vitamin E is essentially found in the usual food we eat. Some of the best food sources of vitamin E include fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.

One ounce of roasted peanuts contains about 2 milligrams of vitamin E.
A half of a medium-sized kiwi contains about 1 milligram of vitamin E.
A quarter cup of a raw mango contains 0.9 milligram of vitamin E.

What are the symptoms or diseases brought about by vitamin E deficiency?

Though vitamin E deficiency is rare, some people have a minute chance of having it. These would include people who are having trouble absorbing fat, which is the substance that helps process vitamin E. Some of the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency would include chronic diarrhea and greasy stools.

What are natural herbal remedies for treating the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency?

Fortunately, there are natural herbal remedies that can be used to treat the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. In solving greasy stools, there are no specific herbal remedies needed. You have to avoid eating foods, which have high fat contents. You can also drink plenty of water and make sure that you are eating a high fiber diet.

As for chronic diarrhea, you may use fenugreek to soothe the intestines. If there is pain along with chronic diarrhea, ginger can help in alleviating this. In addition, marshmallow root helps in calming the stomach as well as healing inflamed intestines.

Now that you know the importance of Vitamin E, will you be more inclined to include it in your regular diet? If you have comments about Vitamin E, please do not hesitate to share them with our readers.